I have heard as many bad things as good things about anemones and was hoping some with personal experience could guide me in the right direction. I have recently purchased two Ocellaris and they are both doing well. I know anemones will move around til they pick a spot to stay. I also heard that if something goes wrong, that they will make a mess of the tank and potentially kill the livestock. Does anyone have one with clowns, or just an experience to tell about? Also, what are the preferred types of anemone? Thanks
What anemone to pair with my clowns?
- Thread starter meintn
- Start date
Fishboy42
Premium Member
Ocellaris clowns in the ocean typically reside in carpet anemones (H. magnifica, S. mertensii, S. gigantea), which are some of the more difficult ones to keep in captivity. They are beautiful if you are up for a challenge (I've never attempted to keep one, but maybe someday!).
Many people have success using "surrogate" anemones or even some corals as a clownfish host. Even some of the "natural" pairings that I've tried though have resulted in a large, healthy anemone that is ignored by the clowns
It isn't a sure-bet, but you could try an easier-to-keep bubble-tip or long-tentacled anemone or LPS coral to see if they take-up residence in it.
Below is a link to an online clown/anemone book that has the natural clown & anemone pairings and some species information:
Field Guide to Anemone Fishes and their Host Sea Anemones
Matt
Many people have success using "surrogate" anemones or even some corals as a clownfish host. Even some of the "natural" pairings that I've tried though have resulted in a large, healthy anemone that is ignored by the clowns
It isn't a sure-bet, but you could try an easier-to-keep bubble-tip or long-tentacled anemone or LPS coral to see if they take-up residence in it.Below is a link to an online clown/anemone book that has the natural clown & anemone pairings and some species information:
Field Guide to Anemone Fishes and their Host Sea Anemones
Matt
Angela Short
New member
I have had numerous clowns host many corals. My skunk hosts a spaghetti leather, my maroons a bubble coral and my ocellaris a frogspawn. Hairy mushrooms have also been a favorite coral to host in for lots of my clowns. I have never had a problem getting my clowns to host something so maybe yours will take to a coral you currently have without getting a anemone unless you really wanted one.
waynesworld
Premium Member
I use to have a large carpet that lasted over three years with me and was traded through a few people before me and was great until I moved hem to a 90 with a closed loop and he decided to take on a hammerhead. He moved a little to get to the light he wanted and then just stayed in one place. The clowns loved him too but when he died the tank didn't crash I was thinking about getting a couple more soon though.
Pickupman66
New member
I have a gold stripe maroon that has hosetd in a bubblt tip anem. she also hosts in the xenia surrounding it
fallinapart
Premium Member
I have a saddle back clown that hosts a pink tipped anemone and even gets mad when I spot feed the anemone. 
Norman
Norman
Fanof49ASU
Premium Member
My ocellaris clowns used to host my frogspawn....but recently, I've had trouble keeping it. Now they're looking kinda lost.
My maroon clown is hosting gravel in the back of my tank......she's an odd one. Sometimes she'll 'school' with the blue-chromis, and the rest of the time she's acting like a goby in the gravel.....go figure.
My maroon clown is hosting gravel in the back of my tank......she's an odd one. Sometimes she'll 'school' with the blue-chromis, and the rest of the time she's acting like a goby in the gravel.....go figure.
DMBillies
Active member
After my second bubble tip took a walk into a powerhead I decided that was it for me (both lived, didn't really look right for a long time but I though it was not really fair to the critters if I couldn't anemone proof the tank...which is difficult). I also found them pretty annoying in terms of stinging other corals, but if you've got lots of space that would be less of a problem.
Also, my cleaner and peppermint shrimp would constantly steal what I was trying to feed the anemones... that's just something to think about.
Also, my cleaner and peppermint shrimp would constantly steal what I was trying to feed the anemones... that's just something to think about.
DMBillies
Active member
Fanof49ASU - I have a female clarkii that has literally dug 6" of sand out through a tunnel in the rocks and piled it up against the front glass. This is really annoying because it stirs up the whole tank, plows sand on corals, and probably releases who knows what out of my DSB (I'm actually not sure this isn't to blame for some recent tank problems I've been having in my 92 bow that I cannot diagnose). If I fill it in, she just cleans it back out...
Fanof49ASU
Premium Member
My maroon dug and piled sand in the front for a while......then she moved to the back. I believe she found the digging easier back there because of the powerheads.
Is this a form of 'nesting'? I always assumed that she was preparing an area for eggs.
DMBillies
Active member
Don't know the answer to that. I've never seen my clowns lay eggs, but frankly I cannot actually see the place that they hang out the most, so she could be laying clutches (which would be pretty cool to see). I've heard of them digging before and clearing spots for egg laying, but I had never seen it or experience how annoying (in some ways) it could really be.
Fanof49ASU
Premium Member
Just noticed last night, during the dark hours, my clowns are 'hosting' in my Xenia. 
I have plenty of that crap.....and I've been hoping they would take to it.....but during the day, they tend to stay up front.....away from the Xenia. Go figure.
I have plenty of that crap.....and I've been hoping they would take to it.....but during the day, they tend to stay up front.....away from the Xenia. Go figure.Similar threads
